The Other Side: Mississippi Today's Political Podcast

Mississippi Today's political team breaks down three major bills still very much pending in the 2023 legislative session — two of them very much expected, and the third a major surprise that no one saw coming.

Mississippi Today's political team breaks down an eventful 2023 legislative session that has produced controversial legislation, high drama and deep tension between lawmakers — a session far from the sleepy one many observers predicted a few weeks ago.

Mississippi Today's Bobby Harrison and Geoff Pender talk with Rep. Zakiya Summers, D-Jackson, about how legislative leaders are trying to address issues dealing with crime and water in Jackson without getting input from lawmakers who represent the capital city. She laments how legislation is taking power from Jackson residents and their elected representatives and is causing more harm than good.

Why are lawmakers trying to ban gender-affirming care for trans kids? Mississippi Today's Molly Minta talks with Jensen Luke Matar, the director of the nonprofit TRANS Program, about gender-affirming care, what it is and what it is not, and why powerful lawmakers are trying to ban it for the small number of trans kids in Mississippi. While lawmakers say they're trying to protect kids, Matar says this effort will lead to higher rates of suicide and poor mental health.

Mississippi Today's politics team discusses how the 2023 governor's race and lieutenant governor's race could provide more fireworks than any statewide cycle in recent memory.

Mississippi Today's politics team Adam Ganucheau, Bobby Harrison, and Geoff Pender break down some key results from a new Mississippi Today/Siena College poll. The team focuses on an overwhelming percentage of Mississippians who support expanding Medicaid and who want a new governor in 2023.

House Education Chairman Richard Bennett discusses education issues before the 2023 Legislature. He wants to expand preschool in Mississippi, and differs with Lt. Gov. Hosemann on incentivizing 'modified calendars,' or year-'round classes for districts.

Sally Doty, director of Mississippi's broadband expansion office, stresses the importance of people logging on to www.broadbandms.com, or calling or texting "Internet" to 601-439-2535 to report inadequate or nonexistent internet service. The data collected from this will be used to determine how much federal money Mississippi receives to expand broadband internet service.

Mississippi Today's politics team breaks down key issues lawmakers could address in the 2023 legislative session. They also discuss how the statewide and legislative election year could affect the outcome of certain policy debates.